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For those who may be skeptical about Prospect Park’s ability to nab some big names and performers to appear on their proposed reboot’s of All My Children and One Life to Live, the production companies latest round of SAG-AFTRA negotiations (the actors union) looks increasingly viable.

In the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, the publication spoke to several industry insiders who offered up the following comments on the actors pay scale situation, after the failed attempt with the union the last go-round of Prospect Park trying to get the beloved soaps online.

“It’s a much more humane deal and will expire in one year,” said one source. “If this works, if it’s successful, that can only be good for the actors,” says SOD’s source of the short length of the agreement, adding that while the base bay for performers in the contract is union scale. “None of us worked for scale when we were on ABC. And in this contract, there is room for them to negotiate the pay scale for individual actors just as before,” commented the source.

Talent Manager Michael Bruno added, ” I don’t have solid numbers yet, but I don’t think the pay is going to be that bad. I was concerned it would be a $100 a day and it’s not that.”

So soapers, who do you think Prospect Park should have on their top hit list of performers from AMC and OLTL? Do you believe Prospect Park plans to revive the soaps is going to work? Weigh-in!

OLTL: There should be on are: Erika Slezak (heart&soul of OLTL),Robert Woods,Hillary
B.Smith,Catherine Hickland(Lindsay),Kassie Depaiva,Robin Strasser(Dorian),Victor,Jessica,Natalie,Clint,GiGi ,Rex,Roxy,david Vickers,Tea,John etc…Amc wouldn’t be the same without Susan Lucci….

For AMC they need the heavy hitters of Eden Riegel, Alicia Minshew, Thorsten Kaye, Susan Lucci, Walt Willey, David Canary, Julia Barr, Debbi Morgan, Darnell Williams, Michael Knight, and Cady McClain! I know Darnell is on contract with Y&R but he isn’t being used so they should cut him. On OLTL they need Bob Woods, Jerry verDorn, Robin Strasser, Erika Slezak, Kassie DePaiva, Hillary Smith, Melissa Archer, Ilene Kristen, Tuc Watkins, Flo Lazono, and Ted King. I also think they need Michael Easton but can leave Roger Howarth and Kristen Alderson on GH because I enjoy their characters 100 times more on GH. I hope they can figure this all out because it is has potential to be awesome. This would be ground breaking on many levels because no one has saved a daytime soap like this before.

I understand they are used to making a good salary…but for Michael Bruno to say he was worried it was only going to be $100 is like a slap in the face to me. Myself (and so many others) work for less than that all the time.

BUT I am glad to hear more bits of information coming out – still not doing the happy dance yet. When I see it…

I will watch AMC & OLTL where ever they may be. I think on toln.com with PP and Hulu would be fantastic!! If one day they are back on a TV channel that is great as well. I have missed them both very much and just want them both back into production to enjoy again as it should have always been. Long Live All My Children and One Life To Live!!

Whatever the rate is (let’s say $500 a day) is only for the days the actor actually works. They don’t work every day. And considering that they are to start production in a month, why have only 2 actors been hired? What about the writers? My big concern is that this will be a failed experiment and they will ruin the legacy of the shows by creating some off the track storylines and leaving these shows in worst shape than when they ended.

Yeah I’m wondering about that also, with it being next month and only two actors from just ONE show hired? Unless they are just in negotiations with a lot of the other actors for a while now and it will be close? I hope so!

I would love for OLTL to have Erika, Clint, Dorian, David, Victor, Sam, Blair, Tea, Natalie, Jessica (with one of the previous actresses playing her), Lindsey, Roxie, Gigi, Rex, Shane, Vimal. I wish they could get Todd and Starr from GH but I’m sure that will be hard since they are paid much more on GH and are front burner.

With AMC I’d like to see Erica, Dixie, Tad, Jack, Bianca (played by Eden), Kendall, Patrick from OLTL, I forget his name on AMC right now, Greenlee, JR (get him from B&B please! He was great on AMC!), Opal, Angie, Darrell (forget his character’s name right now).

We may get screwed again but at least this attempt seems more realistic to me. Filming in CT as opposed to NY or CA. Half-hour shows instead of an hour and only 4-days a week with a Friday recap. Smart Smart Smart. And this seems logical to me from a “start-up” business stand-point. This is an experiment – a noble venture for sure, but it’s still an experiment and these guys should continue with small steps. As one of many – I really hope this works. Now as an avid OLTL fan – when I hear from Erika Slezak and Kassie DePaiva that they have been contacted and have again accepted a contract with PP, I will drink a little more of the kool-aid. Until then … this is just a very nice offering of intent.

My biggest wish is that Thorsten Kaye and Alisha Minshew will join the show. The Slaters need to be a core family. Other than that, Erica, Jackson, Adam and Brooke, Tad and Dixie, David and Cara, Jesse and Angie. The list is actually bigger, but these are all characters who made AMC. I understand that David Canary might not be interested, since he actually retired. Core families, with dramatic stories. And Zen. Yumm!

I’d like to see at least most of the leads like Clint, Viki, Bo, Nora, Natalie, Blair, Tea, Jessica, and John, I know they have John on GH but I think he is out of place there and needs to come home to OLTL, I think John was on OLTL 9yrs and became a big part of the show and is needed…..I did watch AMC for like years so I can’t coment on that. I so hope this is true!

I’m concerned about the fact that some main characters haved moved to the West Coast. If they (PP) had gotten their act together last year, OLTL would have gone fluiditly into production, now I just don’t know, it really depends on how well the writers know the characters and which original actors/actresses sign on! If OLTL gets a reprieve, please let it be as good as the original!!

I don’t know how but you can watch Hulu on your tv. Hulu regular is free but hulu plus is only $7.99 per month. Completely worth it. I just hope people will watch so that it will last longer than talked about. It is all up to the fans that have fought like crazy to have this happen. What I don’t understand is why Guiding Light and As the World Turns did not do this? Why can’t all the new soaps be on soapnet? Oh well I am extremely happy. Watched both since day 1. They are my people and my family.

I really hope this works. I especially miss OLTL. I WILL support this “experiment” with my viewership if it comes to fruition. I watched OLTL online daily after the cancellation was announced, hoping TPTB would see online viewership is a viable option. When the PP deal was announced, and then failed I was so disappointed. I will also support AMC. I loved that show back in the day. I believe both shows have so much potential and a continued fan following.

I certainly hope that OLTL and AMC will be brought back into production and will return to our daily lives again no matter what media they come through.. However we the soap fans have been through all of this before.

If Prospect Park is indeed able to actually pull it off this time, then given the heck that broke loose when ABC cancelled our beloved soaps and the boycott that ensued in the aftermath, it would be the kind of historical ground-breaking news that would most likely be reported on the National as well as local news programs and Prospect Park would no doubt buy commercial time on ABC to make announcements during General Hospital.

As I said at the outset, our beloved soaps’ return would be wonderful…..However unless and until Prospect Park themselves makes a formal public announcement on when and where to tune in, I won’t be getting my hopes up again.

OLTL must-haves: Erika Skezak, Robin Strasser, Jerry Ver Dorn, Robert S Woods, Hilary B Smith, Kassie De Paiva, James De Paiva, Ilene Kristen, Dan Gauthier, the character of Joey Buchanan (be it Tom Degnan, Chris Mckenna or a recast), Melissa Archer, Brett Claywell (would love to have Scott Evans too but that may not be possible right now). If she’s available, Andrea Evans with John Lopriano ushering in Sarah/CJ (who could be a new love interest for Kyle if SE can’t make it…even if he can via a triangle) back in Llanview. Roger Howarth can join eventually but the wrapup with the GH stories should be done organically. Michael Easton i actually think works BETTER on GH and Natalie should move on from John. Not “must haves” but still really should be there: Patricia Elliot, Tonja Walker, Laura Koffman, Catherine Hickland and Pamela Payton-Wright. Not as essential but i’d like to see the Gannons back. David Chisum would also make a nice add as it’s odd how his character never came back in the wake of the last Mitch returns.

A great way to kick off the series and (re)introduce the characters/stories would be Viki narrating a letter to an old friend like Wanda or Larry Wolk.

I am very excited for this new info ..Also I am hoping it returns
on cable , if its just online ..thats good too ..I am over the moon our favorite
Soaps are rising from the ashes !
This is an awesome bday gift worth waiting for.

We shall see. If it is a half-hour soap run Mondays-Thursdays, as I have heard, I would not expect large casts or expensive shoots with many extras. This will be taut storytelling. And I would think with the time passed, we may not see our favorite actors to their signature roles. But our stories will go on. Wouldn’t that be nice?!?!

All we are hearing is rumors.Where are the facts.PP did this the last time no statements until Sorry No Go.I still cannot shake the feeling the timing is strange.ABC was running out of time about the rights and here we go again.I hope I’m wrong and do want them back but I cannot shake this feeling its another put us off nd if they do at least one show then they can say they have the rights for ten years.Kiss them bye for good.Another don’t believe very many heavy hitters will be hired.JMO

I’m almost afraid to get my hopes up on this nxt go around. I don’t mind the 30 min shows 4 days a wk. Thats ok really; but what I am wondering about is how many of the regular actors will be willing to sign on? Or will we have maybe one or two of the ones we knew and the rest newbies. Alot of questions hanging in the air. I guess time will tell.
I hope and pray everything will wrork out for the best.
Plus is this something we will have to pay to view ?

IMO, PP was forced to continue working on these shows “underground” due to the negative response from fans (ie saying they’d only watch if they’re on cable, won’t watch if certain actors aren’t on, etc etc etc etc. Believe it or not, that kind of negative response can impact investors. Fans have forced PP to be “hush hush” because of all their complaining, demands and conspiracy theories. Can anyone really blame them? PP is working hard to bring these shows back. It’s time to leave the negativity at the door and support the actors and PP . Would it make any sense at all for PP to go thru negotiations with the unions, approach the actors/crew (and sign some), spend $ on licensing rights, studio space, sets, etc if they weren’t serious?? If they plan to begin production in Feb., they must be confident several actors will sign.

OLTL I’ve watched for over 40 yrs. and will watch as long as I live.
I hope most of the actors return, and I hope for a cable station . I will watch online if that’s what is all we have. Please bring our shows back!!!!!!!! I have boycotted ABC
since they took the soaps off the air.
Thanks,
Old viewer and ready for something new.

I think they should bring Sean ringgold David Gregory kassie Depaiva Florencia Tom Degnan Kelley missal Andrew Trischitta illene Kristen shenelle Edmonds Patrick gibbons as many as the one life cast possible all if possible if AMC actors can be combined into one life show that works too just make it happen

I would like to see these shows on cable too. And it would be good if they were on an established cable channel.
Even if they were on OWN, they would enhance that channel by helping it get regular viewers.

I want it to go to cable for one big reason…..I want them to come back on a cable network, so that when they have the Daytime Emmy’s the following year, they can stick it to ABC. That would be the icing on the cake…LOL

For both OLTL and AMC to sucseed they have to be profitable for Prospect Park. Advertising and subscription fees may not be enough to keep them going.
For the shows to continue, PP needs a second outlet such as one of the 500+ cable networks.
Come on I am so sick of all that real housewife bull.

The key to success is in the story-the writing.One Life to Live was beautifully crafted but All MyChildren was destroyed by hack writing and a totally wrong headed approach from inappropriate costuming to an urban sensibility.Getting back to solid storytelling (free from the interference of network morons and hack writers) and it may succeed. Trevor St. John and Florencia Lozano are major talents and one can only hope that they along with Erika Slezak,Kassie dePaiva and Jerry verDorn will be involved.

Totally agree with you. I really hope to find OLTL & AMC on a cable network. Lord knows there’s plenty of room for it, somewhere out there. And all the players listed, are key to the success of the show. If they can’t pull in a good number of heavy hitters, it’ll be harder to get the fans to tune in.

I can’t wait to see these 2 soaps again, especially One Life to Live. I prefer them to be on cable, but I will watch online is that’s the only way.

For OLTL, I’d love to see Erica Sleazak, Jerry Van Dorn, Bob Woods, Hilary B. Smith, Melissa Archer, Kassie Depaiva, Bree Williamson,Robin Strasser, Florencia Lozano, Brian Kerwin, and last, but definitely not least, Trevor St. John. I think Roger Jowarth should remain on GH as I really like him with Carly, but I think he should do some crossing over on a regular basis. A Todd/Victor/Blar/Tea/Carly storyline could be dynamite,

My husband and I both miss All My Children. I got him hooked on it also I started watching it frm the first day when I was pragnent for my daughter who is 42 years old now. She has been watching it all her life. We always recorded it while at work and watched it at night. WE MISS IT TERRIBLY. We REFUSE to watch the chew hoping they take it off the air and put back ALL MY CHILDREN. That was the only soap opera I watched. I also watched ANOTHER WORLD another good one they took off.

I’ve Tried to watch THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL because JR from ALL MY CHILDREN is in it but We just can’t get into it. PLEASE BRING ALL MY CHILDREN back.

I’d rather have it online if it would be on soapnet, becasue I don’t get soapnet. If they pick a neutral cable channel, like USA or TNT, and such, then it would be fine for cable. Not everyone gets all the cable channels. They just aren’t available to everyone. As for the net, there’s no problem with anyone not getting a channel there.
And bring back all the regulars. Hate replacements.

If OLTL chooses to use new actors instead of the originals i won’t be watching and i am quite sure it will flop. They should dump the AMC reboot and use the money to ensure the originals can be paid enough to want to come back to OLTL.

Most of the cast of OLTL have already signed on, so they have a great start. RH is set to reprise his role temporarily on OLTL before going back to GH. No word on KA or ME yet, but I don’t see them staying on long if they do go back to OLTL. KA wasn’t going to do the reboot in the first place and ME likes being on GH.
AMC is more likely in danger of using new actors. Very few of the big names have signed on and some haven’t even been contacted.

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The Young and the Restless is gearing up for its 45th anniversary the week of March 26th, with this blast from the past look featuring several of former cast members who are making a return. Check it out below via these retro clips, and let us know who you are looking forward to seeing back in GC? Leave a comment »